L.A.'s Eagle Rock takes "Best of Show;" Lost Abbey of San Marcos named "Champion Brewery"

Equinox, an American wild ale from Los Angeles' Eagle Rock Brewery, took best of show honors at the San Diego International Beer Festival last weekend.

The Lost Abbey of San Marcos was named "Champion Brewery" for winning three silvers (Saints' Devotion, Track #9, Serpents' Stout) and three bronzes (Track #10, Framboise de Amarosa, Inferno).

But if you attended any of the fest's five sessions, you probably had your own list of winners -- and losers. I zipped through on Saturday afternoon, sampling 24 of the 300-plus beers on offer. My six favorites and two that fell short:

1. Apricot Peach Hefeweizen from Vista's Indian Joe. I'm not a big hefe fan, but everything about this ale delighted. The aroma was fresh and fruity, the flavors were tart and balanced, the finish dry. I came back for more.

4. Old Tom, Robinson's. Dark fruit on the nose, then cocoa and dates woven through a lightly-smoked old ale from this venerable British brewery.

5. Palo Santo Marron, Dogfish Head. American strong ale aged on Paraguayan Palo Santo wood -- sounds gimmicky (they had to get barrels from South America? really?) but the wood provides a solid frame for all the raisin and dark plum flavors in this ale from Dover, Del.

6. Apprentice, San Diego's Societe. You smell that? Sure, this IPA is packed with tropical flavors, but I could be happy just sticking my nose in this ale.

Finally, two that failed to meet expectations:

1. East India Porter from Ramona's ChuckAlek Nice aroma, full of coffee and hops, but this beer had the burnt grain flavors of overcooked porridge.

2. Landlord from West Yorkshire's Timothy Taylor. Seems this well-regarded British strong pale ale doesn't travel well. Copper penny flavors hint that it may have dawdled too long in customs.